PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Reece Stockford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aaron Cooper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Stockford
vs
Cooper

186 cm
25
173 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

166 cm
18
169 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Intelligent

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Reece Stockford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Aaron Cooper!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Luis Engracia and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stockford uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cooper.
Cooper throws an overhand right that lands on Stockford's shoulder, as Stockford tries to avoid the shot.
Reece Stockford seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stockford looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stockford throws a head kick that misses.
Stockford throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cooper.
Nice takedown defense from Cooper. No joy for Stockford on that attempt.
Stockford lands a head kick!
Cooper circles away from the clinch attempt.
Horrible takedown by Stockford or perhaps it was just good defense by Cooper which made him look bad.
Stockford wants to clinch.
Cooper circles away from the clinch attempt.
Stockford tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cooper swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cooper takes a swing at Stockford's ribcage but misses.

Cooper shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Cooper missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Stockford knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cooper on the ground.
Cooper throwing shots but Stockford is blocking nicely.
Cooper has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Stockford keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Cooper passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Stockford!
Cooper controlling the pace for now.
Cooper punching from mount but Stockford doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Stockford avoids a series of strikes thrown by Cooper.
Cooper misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Cooper controlling from the full mount.
Stockford is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Cooper sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cooper tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Cooper trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Stockford tries to reverse the position but Cooper maintains control.
Cooper throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Stockford because Cooper loaded up on that one.
Cooper trying to control but Stockford is having none of it.
Cooper controlling the position easily from mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Despite being in the dominant position, Aaron Cooper just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cooper dodges the punch combination from Stockford.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Aaron Cooper will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Cooper closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Cooper not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cooper slows the pace down in half guard.
Cooper not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Stockford looks like he's trying to stand up.
Cooper takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Cooper thows a huge punch but Stockford dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Stockford does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Stockford keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Cooper closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Cooper lands in his opponent's guard.
Cooper controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooper pushing down on Stockford's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Cooper lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Cooper wants to pass to mount but Stockford is defending the position.
Cooper is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Cooper should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stockford is staying active underneath Cooper, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Cooper is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Stockford!
Cooper tries to control but Stockford wriggling away.
Cooper throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Cooper lands a nice shot to the head.
Stockford avoids a series of strikes thrown by Cooper.
Cooper tries to control but Stockford wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Stockford is trying to stand up.
Cooper tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Cooper punishing his opponent with strikes.
Cooper tries to control but Stockford wriggling away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Cooper showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Cooper thows a body shot but no joy.
Stockford cracks Cooper with an open hand slap.

Cooper closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Cooper has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Stockford is trying to keep an underhook but Cooper manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Cooper wants to free his trapped foot but Stockford is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Cooper controlling the action here.
Cooper seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Stockford does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Cooper wants to free his trapped foot but Stockford is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Stockford on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Stockford tries to get out of the position.

Despite being in the dominant position, Aaron Cooper just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stockford closes the distance but Cooper moves to the side

and Cooper counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Stockford!
Cooper postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Stockford looks a forlorn figure.
You get the feeling that Stockford really doesn't like being in this position too much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooper landing strikes from the mount.
Cooper unloads with some shots from mount but Stockford bucks and avoids them well.
Cooper throws some wild stikes that Stockford manages to avoid easily.
Cooper takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Aaron Cooper is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cooper content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reece Stockford has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Despite being in the dominant position, Aaron Cooper just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A swing and a miss from Cooper.
Stockford is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cooper.
A slapping leg kick lands for Stockford.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aaron Cooper comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Cooper winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aaron Cooper!